Digital Commons Network^™

Atmospheric Mercury Chemistry: Detection, Kinetics, And Mechanism, Na Mao

Dissertations

The presence of mercury in the environment is of global concern due to its toxicity. The atmosphere is an important transient reservoir for mercury released by human activities and natural sources. The knowledge of atmospheric mercury chemistry is critical for understanding the global biogeochemical cycle. In the atmosphere, mercury primarily exists in three forms: gaseous elemental mercury (GEM), gaseous oxidized mercury (GOM), and particulate-bound mercury (PBM). Over the last decade, the existing knowledge of mercury cycle has dramatically changed: (1) There has been increasing evidence that current detection methods do not accurately quantify gaseous oxidized mercury and a technique which …

Towards A Cross-Layer Coupled Design Framework For Big Data Workflows, Qianwen Ye

Dissertations

The processing and analysis of big data increasingly rely on workflow technologies for knowledge discovery and scientific innovation. The execution of such workflows goes far beyond the capability and capacity of single computers and is now commonly supported on reliable and scalable data storage and analysis platforms in distributed environments, such as the Hadoop ecosystem. Workflow performance largely depends on how big data systems are configured and used. For example, the makespan of a big data workflow is affected by multiple layers of big data systems, including the parallel computing engine it runs on, the resource manager that orchestrates various …

Assessing Structural And Functional Brain Alterations And Work-Related Fatigue In Non-Hyposmic And Hyposmic Covid-19 Survivors, Rakibul Hafiz

Dissertations

In the year 2019, life began to change at the advent of a global pandemic caused by the novel coronavirus. Mask mandates and mass vaccinations have mitigated the effects significantly, yet cases keep rising with new variants, especially, in densely populated countries, like India. Recent neuroimaging evidence shows the virus can attack the central nervous system (CNS). However, exactly which brain regions undergo structural and functional changes remain largely unknown. Many patients experience 'loss of/reduced sense of smell' (i.e., hyposmic) and an alarming number of survivors develop persistent symptoms ('long-COVID') for several months after initial infection. Fatigue is the most …

Repeated Low-Level Blast Induces Chronic Neuroinflammation And Neurobehavioral Changes In Rat Models, Arun Reddy Ravula

Dissertations

Blast-induced neurotrauma (bTBI) is a signature medical concern for military personnel when they are exposed to explosions in active combat zones. However, soldiers as well as law enforcement personnel are also repeatedly exposed to low-level blasts during training sessions with heavy weaponries as part of combat readiness. Service personnel who sustain brain injuries from repeated low-level blasts (rLLBs) do not display overt pathological symptoms immediately but rather develop cognitive impairments, attention deficits, anxiety, and sleep disturbances over time. An improved rat model of rLLB was developed in this thesis by applying controlled low-level blast pressures (10 psi) repeated five times …

Graph Enabled Cross-Domain Knowledge Transfer, Shibo Yao

Dissertations

The world has never been more connected, led by the information technology revolution in the past decades that has fundamentally changed the way people interact with each other using social networks. Consequently, enormous human activity data are collected from the business world and machine learning techniques are widely adopted to aid our decision processes. Despite of the success of machine learning in various application scenarios, there are still many questions that need to be well answered, such as optimizing machine learning outcomes when desired knowledge cannot be extracted from the available data. This naturally drives us to ponder if one …

Reactive Iron Mineral Coatings In Redox Transition Zones Of A Site With Historical Contamination: Abiotic Attenuation, Xin Yin

Dissertations

Reactive iron mineral coatings are found throughout reduction-oxidation (redox) transition zones and play a significant role in contaminant transformation processes. In this study, an 18.3-meter core is collected, subsampled, and preserved under anoxic conditions to maintain its original redox state. Screening analyses are conducted at sampling increments of 5.08 cm in depth for the following: elemental concentrations with X-ray fluorescence (XRF), sediment pH, sediment oxidation-reduction potential (ORP), total volatile organic carbon (TVOC) in the sample headspace, and abundant bacteria (16S rRNA sequencing). Using the Fe and S gradients correlated with microbial data, five RTZs are delineated. To characterize iron mineral …

Development Of Novel Mass Spectrometric Methods For Reaction Screening, Oligosaccharide Detection, And Nitrosamine Quantitation, Qi Wang

Dissertations

Benefitting from its high detection sensitivity and specificity, mass spectrometry (MS) has become a powerful technique in academia and industry. The aim of this dissertation study is to develop new mass spectrometric methods for organic reaction screening, detection of oligosaccharide/glycan in complex matrices, and nitrosamine absolute quantitation.

First, an electrochemistry/mass spectrometry (EC/MS) platform is built to generate an N-cyclopropylaniline radical cation electrochemically and to monitor its reactivity toward alkenes, which leads to the discovery of a new redox neutral reaction of intermolecular [3 + 2] annulation of N-cyclopropylanilines and alkenes. Net redox neutral electrosynthesis is quite rare in synthetic organic …

Adversarially Robust And Accurate Machine Learning For Image Classification, Yanan Yang

Dissertations

Machine learning techniques in medical imaging systems are accurate, but minor perturbations in the data known as adversarial attacks can fool them. These attacks make the systems vulnerable to fraud and deception, and thus a significant challenge has been posed in practice. This dissertation presents the gradient-free trained sign activation networks to detect and deter adversarial attacks on medical imaging AI (Artificial Intelligence) systems. Experimental results show a higher distortion value is required to attack the proposed model than other state-of-the-art models on brain MRI (Magnetic resonance imaging), Chest X-ray, and histopathology image datasets. Moreover, the proposed models outperform the …

Private Information Retrieval And Function Computation For Noncolluding Coded Databases, Sarah A. Obead

Dissertations

The rapid development of information and communication technologies has motivated many data-centric paradigms such as big data and cloud computing. The resulting paradigmatic shift to cloud/network-centric applications and the accessibility of information over public networking platforms has brought information privacy to the focal point of current research challenges. Motivated by the emerging privacy concerns, the problem of private information retrieval (PIR), a standard problem of information privacy that originated in theoretical computer science, has recently attracted much attention in the information theory and coding communities. The goal of PIR is to allow a user to download a message from a …

The Impact Of Material And Environmental Properties On The Ettringite - Metaettringite Thermochemical Reaction, Aaron Strand

Dissertations

The use of energy is an essential need for people, with demand constantly increasing due to an increasing population and an increase in living and comfort standards. Since 1965, world energy consumption has quadrupled. During peak utilization, the strain on the grid infrastructure can be immense. As energy demand fluctuates during different times of the day and year, the energy production needs to scale accordingly This creates inefficiencies within the system such as over building generation capacity or losses from start up or ramping up production. This can be alleviated through load leveling where excess energy generated during low demand …

Bodipy-Based Light-Responsive Materials, Zhaoxiong Wan

Dissertations

The energy required for life on our planet is provided by light. In science, light is an important and powerful tool for measuring and modifying substances. For example, under the effect of illumination, light-responsive materials can change their physical and chemical properties. Photochemistry is a branch of research to study the effects of light irradiation on chemical structures and reactions. Some photochemical changes could lead to chemical bond dissociation (such as in photosynthesis) and structure isomerization (such as in the retina). Photochemistry has a strong relationship with human lives and it is essential in many ways. Among photophysics, fluorescence emission …

Type I Error Rate Controlling Procedures For Multiple Hypotheses Testing, Beibei Li

Dissertations

This dissertation addresses several different but related topics arising in the field of multiple testing, including weighted procedures and graphical approaches for controlling the familywise error rate (FWER), and stepwise procedures with control of the false discovery rate (FDR) for discrete data. It consists of three major parts.

The first part investigates weighted procedures for controlling the FWER. In many statistical applications, hypotheses may be differentially weighted according to their different importance. Many weighted multiple testing procedures (wMTPs) have been developed for controlling the FWER. Among these procedures, two weighted Holm procedures are commonly used in practice: one is based …

Design Of Self-Assembled Peptides For Wound Healing, Ka-Kyung Kim

Dissertations

According to the CDC, 15% of diabetic patients develop diabetic foot ulcers (DFU) and approximately 170,000 patients undergo non-traumatic amputation annually. DFU is a major complication of diabetes caused by non-healing full-thickness wounds through the dermis. The current treatments include blood sugar control, frequent debridement, offloading, moist wound care, infection treatment, and amputation. To achieve wound closure of DFU, appropriate wound care and antibiotic therapy are essential. Topical regimens include hydrocolloids, alginates, foam, silver-impregnated dressings, and hydrogels. Wound healing is a complex and dynamic interplay between the immune system, keratinocytes, and dermal cells (in case of cutaneous wound). Angiogenesis has …

Unconscious Bias In United States Marine Corps Leadership Doctrine: Examining Microaggressions Through Document Analysis, Patrick Butler

Dissertations

This dissertation employed a document analysis format to examine Marine Corps leadership education doctrine for microaggressions. The United States Marine Corps (Marine Corps or USMC) is the military service with the least diverse officer cadre in terms of sex, gender identity, and race. The study results show a pattern of repeating unconscious bias-related content within the Marine Corps’ documents. Such patterns can negatively affect minority members in terms of their health, acceptance, and performance within the organization. The results also document an overriding bias-culture which puts Marine Corps leadership in a dilemma of trying to encourage conformity to traditional organizational …

Correlates Of Health Literacy And Perceptions Of Burden Among Caregivers Of Persons Diagnosed With Chronic Illnesses, Mubarak Aldawsare

Dissertations

Background/Rationale: Greater attention is needed on factors effectively supporting caregivers because poor well-being of caregivers can hamper overall patient outcomes. Lack of awareness of caregiver burden has implications for healthcare systems globally. Caregivers may encounter various levels of burden as a result of providing long-term care to individuals diagnosed with one or more chronic illnesses. Caregivers with inadequate health literacy are more likely to experience feelings of uncertainty, and as a result, caregiver burden. Little is known about the impact of the health literacy of caregivers on the level of burden when providing care to individuals with complex care …

An Exploratory Study On How Math Stories Engage Young Learners In Mathematical Sense-Making, Maria Gigi Carunungan

Dissertations

This is an exploratory study of how pedagogy in the form of math stories, shapes young learners’ perceptions, motivations, and sense-making of math concepts. The research is presented in an exploratory documentary, with audio-video data collected through the iPhone. The pilot test of story-driven math learning solutions was conducted by two teachers with eight first grade children from diverse backgrounds in an afterschool program. This study also includes interviews of the teachers, educational leaders and specialists in primary school curricula, children’s literature, and math education. The results of the pilot validated the efficacy of story-driven math learning solutions for mathematical …

Pertenecemos: Trajectories Of Belonging, Knowing, And Discovering For Underrepresented Undergraduate Communicative Disorders And Sciences Students In California State Universities, Marcella C. Mccollum

Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to identify the ways that seniors in undergraduate programs in speech, language, and hearing sciences engaged with the department as they entered into their undergraduate programs, the factors that they considered when deciding whether to apply to graduate school in speech-language pathology, and perceptions of supports and barriers to entering into graduate school. This study partnered with seniors enrolled in public California university programs designed for future speech-language pathologists. A mixed methods design was utilized to provide a holistic account of student experiences. Three major themes emerged from the study. Throughout the process within …

The Role Of School Counselors In Advocating For Social Justice For All Students During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Amna Jaffer

Dissertations

The field of K–12 school counseling has evolved to embrace social–emotional and mental wellness aspects of students in addition to academic and career/college readiness. Social justice advocacy has been added to the role of school counselor by professional and educational entities. What is less clear is how well-versed school counselors are in social justice advocacy competencies, whether they are equipped to lead and advocate for social justice, barriers and accomplishments in doing so, and ways in which this role may be further developed and integrated into the field of school counseling, particularly in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. As …

Academic Trajectories Of Students With Disabilities And Caregiver Perspectives On Distance Learning In The Covid-19 Pandemic, Charlene Lee

Dissertations

As research on student learning during the COVID-19 pandemic continue to emerge, there remains a dearth of research on students with IEPs and how their caregivers experienced remote learning in a pandemic school year. This study examined the academic trajectories of students with IEPs and their caregivers’ perspectives towards distance learning during the COVID-19 pandemic. Measures included academic data extracted from the 2018–2019 school year and 2020–2021 school year and a survey of parental and caregiver opinions of the pandemic’s impact. Student academic data (N = 270) revealed a significant decrease in reading but not math trajectories. Notable differences were …

Factors That Contribute To Lower Enrollments Of Underrepresented Minority And Female Graduate Students In Computer Science And Engineering (Cse) At Bay Area California State University Campuses And Mitigating Factors From Student Perspectives, Noah G. Price

Dissertations

Over the last decade the Bay Area region has witnessed a lack of diversity in Silicon Valley technology professions, a subject of current political and popular discourse. The California State University (CSU) system provides accessible higher education; the CSU system approach to accessible higher education affirms the distinctness of regions, prepares graduates for professions in these distinct regions, and affirms the diversity in the state and the world. The CSU fall 2019 - 2021 enrollment dashboard data indicated there was a decrease in enrollment of underrepresented minority (URM) in graduate programs across three Bay Area campuses. Public fall 20119 - …

Faculty And Administrator Perspectives On Campus Internationalization At Selected California State University And University Of California Campuses: Individual Efforts And Interconnected Roles, Parinaz Zartoshty

Dissertations

This explanatory mixed-method research study explored campus internationalization trends by examining the practices of faculty and administrators engaged in campus internationalization efforts at selected four-year public institutions in Northern California. Most survey respondents and interviewees recognized the importance of internationalization, prompted greatly by their own personal transformational “international” journey, making them identifiable champions who can assist in promoting internationalization efforts. Most maintained that the system and their individual institutions do not provide adequate incentives to those faculty who are not personally motivated to engage in international activities and acknowledged internationalization does not float to the top of priorities. In instances …

Student Engagement And Universal Design For Learning (Udl): A Community College Case Study, Candice R. Nance

Dissertations

Community colleges have a significant impact on education. The community college population includes some of the most vulnerable students who have the most to gain from educational attainment. The objective of this mixed-methods case study was to investigate the practical implications and impact of Universal Design for Learning (UDL) on student learning, engagement, and sense of belonging. Forty-nine students participated in this study from seven sections of an asynchronous introduction to business course at a California community college during the COVID-19 pandemic. Findings suggested that the UDL intervention increased students’ final grade percentages, exam scores, and group project scores while …

Core Principles Of Early Childhood Education Through The Lens Of California's Transitional Kindergarten Teachers And Administrators, Furwa T. Rizvi

Dissertations

California's public-school system recently introduced another grade level, Transitional Kindergarten, as an opportunity to offer universal access to early education for all 4-year-olds. Elementary school teachers and administrators must be well prepared to support and education these young children. This dissertation focuses on four key principles to ensure high-quality learning: Developmentally Appropriate Practices, Social and Emotional Learning, Dual Language Learning, and Early Intervention. To gain a better understanding of teacher and administrator perspectives on these core principles of early childhood education, a comprehensive survey was administered online, with a total of # teacher and # administrator respondents. Results indicate that …

A Description Of Impostor Phenomenon In Certified Registered Nurse Anesthesiologists, Jeffrey R. Darna

Dissertations

Background: Imposter Phenomenon (IP) is an evolving, multidimensional construct defined as self-perceived intellectual phoniness and professional ineptitude frequently experienced by individuals working in high performance or competitive environments. IP consequences include psychological distress, role under-optimization, and professional paralysis. Certified Registered Nurse Anesthesiologists (CRNAs) are at risk for impostorism; however, IP presence, intensity, and career effects are unknown.

Purpose: The study measured IP in CRNAs and determined the relationship between IP and select sociodemographic and practice variables.

Methods:

Design: A descriptive, cross-sectional correlation design measured IP using an Internet-based survey from a random sample of 170 members of the American …

Remifentanil Patient Controlled Analgesia Use In Laboring Women: A Feasibility And Acceptability Study, Joshua Carr

Dissertations

Background/Purpose: Interest in remifentanil patient controlled analgesia (RPCA) as a treatment for labor pain has increased due to its unique pharmacodynamics and effectiveness on pain control among parturients. Despite its promise, RPCA remains infrequently used in the US. The purpose of this study was to 1) examine the implementation and acceptability of a new RPCA protocol in the labor and delivery ward of a mid-sized hospital, and 2) identify the attitudes and beliefs of healthcare workers in a real-world clinical setting.

Theoretical/Conceptual Framework: The holistic nature of Comfort Theory can account for the proposed mechanisms contributing to the …

Transitions In Palliative Care: Referral Time And Healthcare Utilization In Advanced Stage Colon, Rectal And Lung Cancer Patients., Ann Lawani

Dissertations

Background: Despite lung, colon, and rectal cancer being the leading and third leading cause of cancer-related death among both men and women respectively, few studies have examined Palliative Care Consultation (PCC) on healthcare utilization (HCU) in individuals with advanced stage diagnosis in this disease cohort. Extant research shows advanced stage cancer patients receive aggressive treatments, within the last 30 days of life. Palliative care is linked to less aggressive cancer treatment, and palliative interventions applied early, at diagnosis of advanced cancer, is more favorable for improving symptom and disease management. Patients and family members with early PCC are better informed …

Cardiology Implications Of Ed Covid-19 Patients In An Underserved Rural Health Care Environment, Pedro Colio

Dissertations

Background/Purpose: Positive COVID-19 patients with chronic comorbidities have been associated with severe cardiac complications (e.g., STEMI, NSTEMI, myocarditis, pericarditis, AF) specifically among underserved communities. Acute STEMI and NSTEMI are cardiac conditions associated with ruptured atherosclerotic plaque leading to significant myocardial injury. AF, the most common arrhythmia leading to cerebrovascular accidents, is also common in hospitalized patients with severe illnesses. Myocarditis and pericarditis are inflammatory heart conditions associated with acute viral infections. According to the literature, these cardiac issues have been linked as complications of COVID-19. COVID 19 is an emerging, complex, and costly public health challenge globally with potential lifelong …

Phenomenological Study Of The Lived Experience Of New Graduate Nurses Caring For Hospitalized Patients Living With Dementia, Geline Buenconsejo

Dissertations

Title. Phenomenological Study of the Lived Experience of New Graduate Nurses Caring for Hospitalized Patients Living with Dementia.

Purpose. This study explored new graduate nurses’ lived experiences in caring for hospitalized patients living with dementia.

Background. The first twelve months of transitioning from student to professional nurse in acute care settings are the most stressful, emotionally challenging, and mentally exhausting for new nurses striving to apply newly acquired skills into practice. Some of the most challenging patients for nurses to care for are hospitalized patients living with dementia (PtLWD). With the projected increase in the number of patients with dementia …

Trauma Recidivism: Threat Orientations And Recurrent Injury Perceptions, Molly Bauer, Ann M. Mayo

Dissertations

Purpose: To describe select sociodemographic and clinical variables, threat orientations, and the perceived likelihood of recurrent injury (PLRI) of individuals deemed at risk for trauma recidivism (TR).

Background: Injuries and violence are the leading cause of traumatic death among persons aged 1 to 44 in the United States. Trauma recidivism occurs when an individual experiences more than one significant injury requiring hospital care in a five-year period. The relationship between a trauma recidivist’s perception of recurrent injury and orientation towards a threat remains unclear.

Conceptual Basis: Trauma recidivism risk factors contribute to forming an individual’s PLRI. When individuals acknowledge the …

Institutional Commitment For Cancer Pain Management By Hospice Nurses, Catherine M. Beattie

Dissertations

Ineffective pain management continues to pose a significant public health problem. Barriers to pain management include physicians and nurses, patients and families, and regulations. Even nurses who have learned to manage pain may not do it effectively because they feel that it is not a priority within their institution. The purpose of this study was to assess what hospices do to support pain management and hospice nurses' knowledge of pain management.

The research questions assessed pain management knowledge of hospice nurses compared to that of other nurses; source of knowledge; the relationship between pain management knowledge and nurse variables; what …